Marilyn Manson Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Woman Who Claimed They Were Engaged

Earlier this month, Marilyn Manson reached out via his lawyer demanding a public apology from Seraphim Ward (real name Yolanda Tharpe) for spreading false stories about him in the press. Now that that hasn't happened, he's following through on a defamation lawsuit against Ward.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the complaint was filed Tuesday (Jan. 29) in Los Angeles Superior Court. Manson claimed he was the target of "a months-long campaign of defamation and harassment." It's also stated that Manson does not know Ward, whose occupation is listed as musician and independent occult filmmaker in the complaint.

Ward's claims first got attention when she stated in a widely circulated story that she was engaged to the rocker. Though Manson and his representatives denied he even knew Ward, that apparently didn't stop her from continuing to make claims concerning Manson, including accusations that he is 'pro-Nazi' and racist.

According to the filing, Ward did eventually retract the engagement announcement, but later made public accusations that Manson refused to marry her because he "did not want to be seen with [African-American] women" like her. She also claimed that he was responsible for the death of her two cats and that he was stalking her.

The rocker is reportedly seeking $50,000 relating to five cases of defamation, misappropriation of common law right of publicity, unlawful use of Manson's name for commercial advantage, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.